Reports of farmers' request to suicide false, says official

The reported request by farmers of Jerad village in Ramgarh district for allowing them to commit suicide following two successive drought years was Today rubbished by the administration. "It (the story) is a projected one.

The reported request by farmers of Jerad village in Ramgarh district for allowing them to commit suicide following two successive drought years was on Saturday rubbished by the administration. "It (the story) is a projected one.

Has the letter reached its destination?," Ramgarh Deputy Commissioner Ganesh Prasad said. "No one will be allowed to die. The administration has already taken measures to address the farmers' needs in the whole Ramgarh district," he said adding that he will visit the village on Saturday. Recently, Manoj Mahato, a group leader of the farmers had claimed before TV channels that distressed farmers had written letters to President Pratibha Patil and Governor M O H Farook requesting euthanasia following successive droughts. Last year, some farmers from Chhatarpur block in Palamau district had enacted a similar episode before they sought apology and blamed the media for instigating them.

Jharkhand has been announced drought-hit for the second year in running and a high-level central team visited the state this week to make an on-the-spot assessment for fund release.